Read. Return. Repeat. : A ReadICT Podcast

Daniel interviews local author Laurie Dove to talk about her bestselling new crime novel Mask of the Deer Woman. Episode Transcript and Show Notes: http://wichitalibrary.org/BooksMore/Podcast/Pages/rrr_s5e2.aspx

Host Daniel kicks off season 5 with a retrospective looking at the past five years of Read Return Repeat and some new changes coming. Joining him are past podcast hosts Sara McNeil and Sara Dixon, who talk about their time on the podcast, their favorite guests, how the show has changed and what (and who) they would like to see on the podcast in the future. Episode Transcript and Show Notes: http://wichitalibrary.org/BooksMore/Podcast/Pages/rrr_s5e1.aspx

Sara and Daniel interview local author Jillian Forsberg to talk about her new historical novel The Rhino Keeper. Jillian shares what inspired her to write a book based on the most famous rhino in modern history, but also why she believes every story, even unpleasant ones, should continue to be told, as we explore ReadICT Category 7: A Book Someone Told You Not to Read. Episode Transcript and Show Notes: http://wichitalibrary.org/BooksMore/Podcast/Pages/rrr_s4e8.aspx New to #ReadICT? Join the challenge! For more information visit wichitalibrary.org/readict.

Sara and Daniel interview author Talia Lakshmi Kolluri to talk about her debut short story collection What We Fed to the Manticore. Talia shares what inspired her to write stories from various animal perspectives, geeks out about research (especially animal research!) and the fascinating world of animal friendships – both with humans and other species - as we focus on ReadICT category 9, a book featuring an animal sidekick. Episode Transcript and Show Notes: http://wichitalibrary.org/BooksMore/Podcast/Pages/rrr_s4e7.aspx New to #ReadICT? Join the challenge! For more information visit wichitalibrary.org/readict.

Sara and Daniel interview author Alex White, who is a science fiction and horror writer, best-known for the Salvager series and their tie-in novels for the Aliens and Star Trek franchises. In this episode that explores ReadICT Category 6, a book set in space, Alex talks about their newest novel, August Kitko and the Mechas from Space, why writing speculative fiction can be cathartic, and why sci-fi is so much more than "big robots punch each other." Episode Transcript and Show Notes: http://wichitalibrary.org/BooksMore/Podcast/Pages/rrr_s4e6.aspx New to #ReadICT? Join the challenge! For more information visit wichitalibrary.org/readict.

Sara and Daniel interview author N.K. Jemisin, a celebrated sci-fi and fantasy author who won the Hugo Award for her novel The Fifth Season. Tying in with ReadICT Category 1: A Book with a Map, this episode focuses on Jemisin's Great Cities duology, The City We Became and The World We Make, a series that explores neighborhood stereotypes, gentrification and all the people that make a place unique, but with monsters! Episode Transcript and Show Notes: http://wichitalibrary.org/BooksMore/Podcast/Pages/rrr_s4e5.aspx New to #ReadICT? Join the challenge! For more information visit wichitalibrary.org/readict.

Sara and Daniel interview author Kiersten White, author of the 2023 novel Mister Magic. As they explore ReadICT Category 3: A book about something lost or found, Kiersten shares her thoughts on what she calls "toxic nostalgia," problematic Punky Brewster episodes and how sometimes when you escape a cultish upbringing, you have to go write a horror novel about it. Episode Transcript and Show Notes: http://wichitalibrary.org/BooksMore/Podcast/Pages/rrr_s4e4.aspx New to #ReadICT? Join the challenge! For more information visit wichitalibrary.org/readict.

Sara and Daniel interview Tommy Orange, author of There There and Wandering Stars to talk about urban native representation, why it's important to read books by and about people different from you and how much they love the Reservation Dogs soundtrack as they dig into ReadICT Category 12: A book by an indigenous author. Episode Transcript and Show Notes: http://wichitalibrary.org/BooksMore/Podcast/Pages/rrr_s4e3.aspx New to #ReadICT? Join the challenge! For more information visit wichitalibrary.org/readict.

Sara and Daniel discuss ReadICT Category 5: A book by or about someone who is neurodivergent. Joining the discussion are Ian and Jenny, members of the Read Return Repeat production team who normally work behind the camera. In this informal chat, they talk about how they define neurodivergence, common myths about people with conditions like ADHD, Dyslexia and Autism, and why accurate representation in media of people living with these conditions can help everyone embrace being different. Also, there may or may not be Dune spoilers. Episode Transcript and Show Notes: http://wichitalibrary.org/BooksMore/Podcast/Pages/rrr_s4e2.aspx New to #ReadICT? Join the challenge! For more information visit wichitalibrary.org/readict.

Sara and Daniel interview writer Ross Gay to talk about his essay collection, Inciting Joy, which was released in 2022. In this conversation, which explores ReadICT Category 4: A Collection, Ross talks about the meaning of incitement, the interconnectedness of everything and why inefficiency can be a great act of self-care. Episode Transcript and Show Notes: http://wichitalibrary.org/BooksMore/Podcast/Pages/rrr_s4e1.aspx New to #ReadICT? Join the challenge! For more information visit wichitalibrary.org/readict.

Sara and Daniel are joined by Suzanne Perez and Beth Golay of the Books and Whatnot podcast to talk about the new #ReadICT 2024 challenge categories. In this special kickoff episode which was recorded in front of a live audience at the Advanced Learning Library in Wichita, KS on January 4th, 2024, Sara, Daniel, Suzanne, and Beth talk about what their (reading) plans are this year for each category as well as some titles they would recommend to others participating in the challenge. Episode Transcript and Show Notes: http://wichitalibrary.org/BooksMore/Podcast/Pages/rrr_s4e0.aspx New to #ReadICT? Join the challenge! For more information visit wichitalibrary.org/readict.

Sara and Daniel interview prolific sci-fi author John Scalzi for #ReadICT category 12: A book by an author visiting Wichita. They talk about John's most recent novel Starter Villain, hyper-intelligent cats and what it's like receiving celebrity fan mail. Episode Transcript and Show Notes: http://wichitalibrary.org/BooksMore/Podcast/Pages/rrr_s3e10.aspx New to #ReadICT? Join the challenge! For more information visit wichitalibrary.org/readict.

Sara and Daniel talk with author Natalie Zina Walschots, author of Hench, where they take a closer look at ReadICT Category 5, a book told from the villain's point-of-view. In this episode they examine the lives of the hired help of supervillains, why nobody thinks about the real-world cost of superheroes destroying everyone's favorite coffee shop, and why even henches deserve universal health care. Episode Transcript and Show Notes: http://wichitalibrary.org/BooksMore/Podcast/Pages/rrr_s3e9.aspx New to #ReadICT? Join the challenge! For more information visit wichitalibrary.org/readict.

Sara and Daniel interview local historian Seth Bate, author of Winfield's Walnut Valley Festival, as they delve into ReadICT category 6: a book about time and talk about the timelessness of music, building community through a shared passion, and why more people should play musical saws. Episode Transcript and Show Notes: http://wichitalibrary.org/BooksMore/Podcast/Pages/rrr_s3e8.aspx New to #ReadICT? Join the challenge! For more information visit wichitalibrary.org/readict.

Sara and Daniel interview author Travis Baldree, author of Legends and Lattes, the bestselling cozy fantasy novel about an orc who trades in her weapons to open a coffee shop in a quiet village. In this episode – which focuses on ReadICT category 3, a book about friendship – Travis shares his thoughts on how our friendships are a form of self-reflection, why found families are important, and what exactly a hobgoblin is. Episode Transcript and Show Notes: http://wichitalibrary.org/BooksMore/Podcast/Pages/rrr_s3e7.aspx New to #ReadICT? Join the challenge! For more information visit wichitalibrary.org/readict.

Sara and Daniel interview author David Heska Wanbli Weiden to discuss his novel Winter Counts, a gritty crime novel taking place on the Lakota Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. This episode explores ReadICT category 10, a book set in the Great Plains, and how place can be inextricably linked to one's identity, especially for Native Americans. Episode Transcript and Show Notes: http://wichitalibrary.org/BooksMore/Podcast/Pages/rrr_s3e6.aspx New to #ReadICT? Join the challenge! For more information visit wichitalibrary.org/readict.

In this episode, co-hosts Sara Dixon and Daniel Pewewardy celebrate Pride Month by doing a deep dive into category 8: a book featuring a LGBTQIA+ protagonist. Joining them on the podcast is author Nghi Vo, who has authored multiple books featuring queer characters. She discusses her most recent novel, Siren Queen, which tells the story of a Chinese American actress in an alternate Hollywood during its Golden Age, featuring monsters both real and imagined. In this novel, she explores themes of mythology, power dynamics, colorism in Hollywood and the importance of support networks in marginalized communities, and how this impacts us today just as much as it did during the time period in which the novel was set. Episode Transcript and Show Notes: http://wichitalibrary.org/BooksMore/Podcast/Pages/rrr_s3e5.aspx New to #ReadICT? Join the challenge! For more information visit wichitalibrary.org/readict.

In this episode, co-hosts Sara Dixon and Daniel Pewewardy get a little "culty" to explore category 11: a book about a secret or closed society! Joining them on the podcast is editor, publisher and cartoonist Robyn Chapman, who edited the graphic novel collection American Cult: A Graphic History of Religious Cults in America from the Colonial Era to Today, which comprises a collection of stories about various cults in American history, some that are older than the founding of this country! They talk about why cults fascinate us, the link between true crime and cult stories and where we draw the line between belief and brainwashing. Episode Transcript and Show Notes: http://wichitalibrary.org/BooksMore/Podcast/Pages/rrr_s3e4.aspx New to #ReadICT? Join the challenge! For more information visit wichitalibrary.org/readict.

In this episode, hosts Daniel Pewewardy and Sara Dixon talk about the often-avoided topic of death in recognition of #ReadICT category 9: a book about death or grief. Joining them on the podcast is journalist Hayley Campbell, who wrote the book All the Living and the Dead: From Embalmers to Executioners, an Exploration of the People Who Have Made Death Their Life's Work. They discuss what led her to writing a book about a topic that makes many people squeamish, which job she could (or couldn't) do if she had chosen to work with the dead, and why we should take more afternoon strolls through cemeteries. Episode Transcript and Show Notes: http://wichitalibrary.org/BooksMore/Podcast/Pages/rrr_s3e3.aspx New to #ReadICT? Join the challenge! For more information visit wichitalibrary.org/readict.

In this episode, co-hosts Sara Dixon and Daniel Pewewardy take a deep dive into category 1: A Book with a Non-Human Narrator. Joining them on the podcast is author and filmmaker C. Robert Cargill, author of post-apocalyptic robot westerns Sea of Rust and its prequel, Day Zero. From robot morality to the history of swearing to why Isaac Asimov was a pessimist, this is an episode you won't want to miss. Episode Transcript and Show Notes: http://wichitalibrary.org/BooksMore/Podcast/Pages/rrr_s3e2.aspx New to #ReadICT? Join the challenge! For more information visit wichitalibrary.org/readict.

Opening Season 3 of the podcast, co-hosts Sara Dixon and Daniel Pewewardy talk with Arielle Zibrak, Associate Professor of English and Gender & Women's Studies at the University of Wyoming to discuss the topic of Category 4: Guilty Pleasures. Zibrak, who is also author of the book Avidly Reads: Guilty Pleasures, discusses the concept of shame and media consumption and why we should never feel bad about the things we love. Episode Transcript and Show Notes: http://wichitalibrary.org/BooksMore/Podcast/Pages/rrr_s3e1.aspx New to #ReadICT? Join the challenge! For more information visit wichitalibrary.org/readict.

In this bonus episode recorded before a live audience, co-hosts Sara Dixon and Daniel Pewewardy join Suzanne Perez and Beth Golay from the KMUW podcast Books & Whatnot to celebrate the 2023 kickoff of the #ReadICT challenge. A departure from the usual podcast format, these book aficionados and fellow podcasters talk about the history of the challenge and explore each category and how it might be approached differently by readers. This episode is full of great recommendations for each category (including some from a few very brave audience members) as well as their own reading plans for #ReadICT 2023! Episode Transcript and Show Notes: http://wichitalibrary.org/BooksMore/Podcast/Pages/rrr_s3e0.aspx New to #ReadICT? Join the challenge! For more information visit wichitalibrary.org/readict.

In this episode, co-hosts Sara Dixon and Daniel Pewewardy close out Season 2 of the podcast by exploring category 12: A Book by An Author Visiting Wichita in 2022. Joining them is author Silas House, who visited Wichita in late October to promote his most recent novel, Lark Ascending. Silas talks about what inspires him to write about climate catastrophes, how music and poetry influence his writing, his favorite authors and more. Episode Transcript and Show Notes: http://wichitalibrary.org/BooksMore/Podcast/Pages/rrr_s2e9.aspx New to #ReadICT? Join the challenge! For more information visit wichitalibrary.org/readict.

In this episode, co-hosts Sara Dixon and Daniel Pewewardy dive deeper into category 4: A Book About a Culture or Topic You're Unfamiliar With. Joining them is Rebekah Taussig, author of Sitting Pretty: The View from My Ordinary, Resilient, Disabled Body (who is also from Kansas!) to discuss a topic that may be unfamiliar to a lot of people beyond media depictions: living with a disability. From navigating the world not built for bodies like hers, to writing, to becoming a new mother during a pandemic, Rebekah shines light on a topic that is still widely misunderstood. Episode Transcript and Show Notes: http://wichitalibrary.org/BooksMore/Podcast/Pages/rrr_s2e8.aspx New to #ReadICT? Join the challenge! For more information visit wichitalibrary.org/readict.

In this episode in honor of Banned Books Week, co-hosts Sara Dixon and Daniel Pewewardy recorded a special edition of the podcast in front of a live audience to talk about why we celebrate Banned Books Week and the importance of the freedom to read. They are joined by Wichita Public Library Director Jaime Nix and Watermark Books & Café owner Sarah Bagby. Joining them virtually as the special guest is Sherman Alexie, author of The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian, published in 2007, which has consistently appeared on the list of frequently challenged books since 2008. Sherman talks about his experience as an indigenous writer, how he feels about writing a book that has been frequently challenged and even joins Sara and Daniel for a couple of banned book games! Episode Transcript and Show Notes: http://wichitalibrary.org/BooksMore/Podcast/Pages/rrr_s2e7.aspx New to #ReadICT? Join the challenge! For more information visit wichitalibrary.org/readict.

In this episode, co-hosts Sara Dixon and Daniel Pewewardy tackle category 3: A Book That Intimidates You. Joining them is Dr. Francis Connor, an Associate Professor of English at Wichita State University. They talk about Shakespeare, Classics, how people's relationships to reading and books have changed in the past six-hundred years and why we should read more books that intimidate us. Episode Transcript and Show Notes: http://wichitalibrary.org/BooksMore/Podcast/Pages/rrr_s2e6.aspx New to #ReadICT? Join the challenge! For more information visit wichitalibrary.org/readict.

In this episode, co-hosts Sara Dixon and Daniel Pewewardy explore category 9, a book about immigration through the lens of food. Joining them on the podcast is Nina Mukherjee Furstenau, a food journalist and author of the 2014 Kansas Notable Book Biting Through the Skin: An Indian Kitchen in America's Heartland. A first-generation immigrant who moved to Pittsburg, Kansas from India as a young child in the 1960s, Ms. Furstenau shares her in experience of growing up as an immigrant in the heart of the American Midwest, how she stays connected to her culture through food and how we can learn about people through the foods we share. Episode Transcript and Show Notes: http://wichitalibrary.org/BooksMore/Podcast/Pages/rrr_s2e5.aspx New to #ReadICT? Join the challenge! For more information visit wichitalibrary.org/readict.

In this episode, co-hosts Sara Dixon and Daniel Pewewardy dive into category 6, a book based on mythology or folklore. Joining them is Thomas Yeahpau (also known as That Native Thomas), a Kiowa and Apache Storyteller and author of the 2016 novel The Last Pow-Wow, which he co-wrote with Steven Paul Judd. They talk about the importance of storytelling, why it resonates with so many people, and how traditional stories are still relevant in the modern world. Episode Transcript and Show Notes: http://wichitalibrary.org/BooksMore/Podcast/Pages/rrr_s2e4.aspx New to #ReadICT? Join the challenge! For more information visit wichitalibrary.org/readict.

In this special episode of the ReadICT Podcast, hosts Sara Dixon and Daniel Pewewardy celebrate the joy of rereading your favorite books, and with the help of the wonderful library staff here at Wichita Public Library, have many great recommendations to share with all you fellow book lovers! To share this book love, they talk with Director of Libraries Jaime Prothro for a fun and candid discussion about their love of books, libraries and of course, what their favorite book to reread is! Episode Transcript and Show Notes: http://wichitalibrary.org/BooksMore/Podcast/Pages/rrr_s2e3.aspx New to #ReadICT? Join the challenge! For more information visit wichitalibrary.org/readict.

In this episode, co-hosts Sara Dixon and Daniel Pewewardy explore the topic of mental illness with guest Zack McDermott, author of the memoir Gorilla and the Bird: A Memoir of Madness and a Mother's Love. Zack, who grew up in Wichita, talks about his book, how his mom inspires him, his love/hate relationship with his hometown, and shares his experiences living with Bipolar I disorder. Episode Transcript and Show Notes: http://wichitalibrary.org/BooksMore/Podcast/Pages/rrr_s2e2.aspx New to #ReadICT? Join the challenge! For more information visit wichitalibrary.org/readict.

In this premiere episode of season 2, co-hosts Sara Dixon and Daniel Pewewardy interview debut author Kate Khavari, Wichita native and author of the upcoming historical mystery novel, A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons, due out on June 7, 2022. They discuss the differences between self-publishing and working with a large publisher, how she juggles writing while being a stay-at-home mom, her advice for aspiring writers, and more. Episode Transcript and Show Notes: http://wichitalibrary.org/BooksMore/Podcast/Pages/rrr_s2e1.aspx New to #ReadICT? Join the challenge! For more information visit wichitalibrary.org/readict.

Dr. Catherine Johns, chair of the Africana Studies Department at the University of Rhode Island, joins Sara to talk about her love of reading and literature, her teaching style, experiences in Jamaica, and more. For a list of books mentioned in this episode, visit https://catalog.wichitalibrary.org/rs/83666.

Sarah Bagby, owner of Watermark Books and Café, joins Sara to talk about the love of reading, owning an independent bookstore, the ReadICT reading challenge, and more. For a list of books mentioned in this episode, visit https://catalog.wichitalibrary.org/rs/82931.

Local cartoonist, comic strip artist, writer, and orthodontist Grant Snider joins Sara to talk about art, inspiring illustrators, what it is like to get a book published, and more. For a list of books mentioned in this episode, visit https://catalog.wichitalibrary.org/rs/82374.

Eric Norris, State Librarian for Kansas, joins Sara to talk about the Kansas Notable Books project, the State Library of Kansas, and library services offered to all Kansans. For a list of books mentioned in this episode, visit https://catalog.wichitalibrary.org/rs/81828.

Adult Programming librarian Sara McNeil and guest Deborah Caldwell-Stone from the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom talk about challenged and banned books, intellectual freedom, Banned Books Week, and more. For a list of books mentioned in this episode, visit https://catalog.wichitalibrary.org/rs/81117.

Adult Programming librarian Sara McNeil and guest Jami Frazier Tracy, curator of collections at the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum, talk about Wichita history, the museum and the building that houses it, local history books, and more. For a list of books mentioned in this episode, visit https://catalog.wichitalibrary.org/rs/80480.

Adult Programming librarian Sara McNeil and guest Todd Volkmann, exhibit caretaker at the Kansas Wildlife Exhibit, discuss books about animals, some of the history of and animals at the Kansas Wildlife Exhibit, and more. For a list of books mentioned in this episode, visit https://catalog.wichitalibrary.org/rs/79933.

Adult Programming librarian Sara McNeil and Prisca Barnes, author and CEO of Storytime Village, discuss the love of reading, representation in literature, the 1958 Dockum sit-in, and more. For a list of books mentioned in this episode, visit https://catalog.wichitalibrary.org/rs/79048.

Adult Programming librarian Sara McNeil and Suzanne Perez, Opinion Editor at the Wichita Eagle, discuss the origins of the ReadICT reading challenge, give book recommendations, and explore the world of books and libraries in this inaugural Wichita Public Library podcast episode. For a list of books mentioned in this episode, visit https://catalog.wichitalibrary.org/rs/78552.